Ireland Announces Second Eurovision Boycott Over Gaza
Irish national broadcaster RTE has announced that it will not participate in or broadcast the 2027 Eurovision Song Contest due to Israel's attacks on Gaza and the humanitarian crisis.
Ireland has decided to boycott the 2027 Eurovision Song Contest, withdrawing from the event and abandoning its broadcast rights due to Israel's attacks on Gaza and the humanitarian crisis in the region.
Ireland's 2027 Boycott Decision
Irish national broadcaster RTE has officially announced that it will neither participate in nor broadcast the event scheduled to be held in Bulgaria in 2027.
Casualties and Humanitarian Crisis in Gaza
In a statement issued by RTE, it was emphasized that participation cannot be justified given the ongoing loss of life in Gaza and the crisis endangering civilian lives.
The organization also expressed deep concern over the continuous obstruction of independent access for international journalists to the region.
Past Boycott Process
Ireland had also withdrawn from the 2026 contest in Vienna after the European Broadcasting Union approved the participation of Israel's public broadcaster KAN.
Historical Achievements and Other Decisions
Having participated in the organization since 1965, Ireland is one of the two countries with the most first-place victories in the contest's history, alongside Sweden.
Meanwhile, the Netherlands also announced last August that it was withdrawing from the 2027 contest to protest Israel's participation.